Mechanical musical instrument.



PATENTBD MAR. 21., 1905.

P. WUEST, JR. MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 20. 1904.

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| l I l 1 1 l r I v l L @Num No. 785,393. PATENTBD MAR. 21, 1905. P. WUEST, JE.

MECHANlGAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APY'LIUATION FILED JULY 2o. 1904.

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No. 785,393.v PATENTED MAR. 2l, 1905.

l P. WUEST, JR.

MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 20. 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTOR: ,a/UP WfJ//g No. '785,393a

UNITED STATEs latented March 21, 195.

PATENT OEEICE,

PHILIP VVUEST, JR., OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANlA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. "785,393, dated March 21, 1905.

Application filed July 20, 1904. Serial No. 217,345.

1'0 r/,ZZ wtrmt rit may concern,-

Be it known that I, PHILIP 1V Uns'r, Jr., of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanical Musical Instruments, whereot the following is a specification, reference beingl had to the accompanying drawings.

vly invention relates particularly to instruments provided with automatic playing' mechanism comprising' a series otl levers in operative relation to sounding' devices, such as the strings of a piano, arranged to be actuated in any predetermined sequence by means of independent pneumatic mechanism controlled by a web of perforated paper which is progressed with respect to a pneumatic trackerbar provided with aseries of apertures corresponding' with the series of levers.

1t is the object of my invention to provide means to operate the pedals of a piano orsiniilar instrument, particularly the loud pedal, by connecting' the same with the pumping mechanism employed to maintain the pneumatic pressure or partial vacuum required for the automatic playing mechanism. Such pumping' mechanism usually comprises two pedals independently connected with respective bellows, and, as hereinafter described, 1 find it convenient to operate the piano-pedal by connection with one of said pumping-pedals independently of the other.

My invention comprises the various novel 'features of construction and arrangement hereinafter more delinitely speciiied.

ln the drawings, Figure-l is a Vtrent elevation of a piano-player embodying' a convenient vform o't my invention. Fig. .l1 is a lett-hand end view ot' the instrument shown in Fig'. l, a portion of the casing being' broken away to show the interior construction. Fig. 111V is a perspective view of a portion ot' the 'front of a piano provided with automatic playing mechanism within its casing and embodying a convenient t'orm of my invention. Fig. '1V is a detail view of the member attached to the loud pedal ot' the piano in Fig. 111.

Referring to the form of my invention shown in Figs. I and H, l indicates the casing inclosing a pneumatic playing mechanism comprising a series ot finger-levers 2, arranged to imping'e upon the digitals 3 et' a piano f1 or similar instrument. Said Vlinger-levers Z are operated by independent pneumatic motor and valve mechanisms ol" ordinary construction arranged within the casing 1 below the table 5 thereof, said operation being' controlled by a web ot' perforatedpapcr in the usual manner. The loud pedal T et' the piano Lt may be depressed by the adjustable member 8 on the plunger 9. which is arranged to be vertically reciprocated in the bearing 10, secured on the back of the casing 1. '.lhe upper end otl said plunger 9 is connected by the pivot 1Q to the leverarm 14 on the rock-shaft 15, having' the arm 17 connected by the link 19 with the bellcrank lever 20, mounted to oscillate on the t'ulcrum 22 in the casing 1. As shown in l1" ig'. I, the upper arm of said lever 2O is connected by the link 24E with the manually-operative lever 26, whose fulcrum 27 is supported by the casing 1. Said rock-shaft 15 has the arm 30, carrying the roller 31, in operative relation with the leatl 33 ot the pneumatic bellows 35 ofthe automatic playing mechanisms. Said leaf 33 is tulcrumed at its upper edge 3T and is provided at its lower edge with the bracket 38, connected by the pivot 39 with the link 40, connected by the pivot 2 with the pumping-pedal The pumping-pedals 43 and -11 are connected by pivots l5 with the `frame sie, which in the operative position shown has its feet 48 resting on the lloor. However, said 'frame d6 is mounted t'or oscillation on the brackets 49 in the casing 1., so that it may be upturned, with the pedals 4.3 and JA, to idle position within said casing through the doerway 51 and be inclosed by the doors 1t is to be understood that with the parts adjusted as shown .in Fig'. Ail when the pumping-pedal 43 is depressed the member S, which is in operative relation with the piane-pedal T, is caused to depress the hitter by the leaf 33 encountering the roller 31 on the leverarm 30 and when said puinping'-pedal -fl' is permitted to rise to its normal position (shown in Fig. H) the piano-pedal i' is restored to its normal position shown by the usual counterbalance-spring with which it is provided within the casing et the piano The pedal eA (shown in 1) being' operatively conne .I

ed with the bellows 53 by a link and bracket, similar to the link and bracket 38 above described, a suitable pressure or partial vacuum may be maintained 'for the operation ot' the automatic playing mechanism by actuating said pedal 44, while the pedal 43 remains idle, the latter being only operated when it is desired to operate the pedal 7. However,

adjusted higher on the plunger 9, so that the pedal 7 is only operated when said pedal 43 is depressed to the limit of its movement.

ln the form oi' my invention shown in Figs. lll and 1V the automatic playing'mechanism is within the piano-casing 60,having the brackets 61, in w-hich the pedal-frame 62 is supported on pivots 63. rlhe pumping-pedals 65 and 66 are pivotally supported on said frame 62, like the pedals 43 and 44, above described, and are respectively provided with link connections 63 and 69, extending to the bellows of the automatic playing' mechanism within the casing 60. The loud pedal of the piano is conveniently provided with the adjustable and reversible member 71, which is detachably engaged therewith by the set-screw 72. The arm 73 ot' said member 71 is conveniently provided with the roller 74 to encounter the pedal 66 and comprises the slot 75, through which it is connected to the member 70 by the setscrew 76, so that the extent and angular position of said arm 73 may be varied and so that it may be swung into inoperative position when desired. Oi' course such a member 71 may be secured on the soft pedal ot' the piano in operative relation with the pedal 66.

lt is to be understood that l do not desire to limit myself to the precise details of construction and arrangement herein described, as various modifications may be made therein without departing1 from the essential features o'il my invention.

l claim 1. in a mechanicalmusicalinstrument, the

combination with automatic playing mechanism, comprising pumping mechanism; oi a member arranged to operatively engage the pedal ot a piano or similar instrument; and, means operatively connecting said pumping mechanism with said pedal, substantially as set forth.

2. ln a mechanical musical instrument, the combination with automatic playing mechanism, comprising a pumping-pedal; of a meniit may be noted that the member 3 may be ber arranged to operatively engage the pedal oi' a piano or similar instrument; a pneumatic bellows arranged to operate said piano-pedal by said member; and, means operatively connecting said bellows with said pumping-pedal, substantially as set t'orth.`

3. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination with an automatic playing mechanism, comprising punniing mechanism; of a member arranged to operatively engage the pedal ot' a piano or similar instrument; and, means operatively connecting said pumpingI mechanism with said pedal, comprising a bellows-leatl and a lever arranged to be operated by said leai', substantially as set forth.

4. VIn a mechanical musical instrument, the combination with automatic playing mechanism, comprising a pumping-pedal; ol a member arranged to operatively engage the pedal of a piano or similar instrument; a hand-lever arranged to operate said piano-pedal by said member; and, means connecting said pumping-pedal with said member, arranged to operatethe latter independently ot' said handlever, substantially as set- Vforth.

5. ln a piano, the combination with automatic playingmechanism, comprising a pumping-pedalsupported by the piano-casing; ol a member supported by the loud pedal oi the piano, in operative relation with said pumping-pedal, substantially as set Vlorth.

in testimony whereo'll l have hereunto signed my name. at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this lth day ol July, 1904.

ll I l LI l WUEST, .l 1:. .Vitnesses:

An'rnnr. it. Piron, ANNA F. iin'rzrnmo.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 785,393, granted March 21, 1905,

upon the application'of Philip Wuest, jr., of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for an improvement in Mechanical Musical Instruments, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction, as follows: In line 36, page 2, the number 66 should read 65; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

[SEAL] Signed and sealed this 4th day of April, A. D., 1905.

F. I. ALLEN,

Commissioner of Patents. 

